Falcons selected OG Jalen Mayfield with the No. 68 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Mayfield (6'5/320) started 15 games in college, winning the right tackle job in 2019 and ultimately getting knocked out for the year with a high-ankle sprain two games into Michigan’s snake-bitten 2020 campaign. Mayfield detonates off the snap in the run game, striking with speed and ferocious power that uncoils out of his hips and sustains through contact because of his fabulous leg drive. But at this time in his development, Mayfield is more comfortable moving forward than settling back into a pass-pro base. He plays with less power in this phase, negating the advantage of his get-off. With average foot speed and a lack of ideal length, Mayfield cannot afford the technical gaffes we occasionally saw in Big 10 play, leading to power rushers getting into his pads or speed rushers taking the corner when he over-extended on the punch. If Mayfield can clean that up, he’ll have the potential to move to tackle down the road. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be a run-blocking unit at guard. He has a very similar profile to Dion Dawkins coming out of Temple. The Falcons announced Mayfield as a guard so we’ll assume that’s where he’ll play if he gets to start in his rookie season. Atlanta lost two of their starting interior lineman in free agency so Mayfield will get the chance to start in Week 1 if he shows well in camp.
